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FUDGY BROWNIES

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The Fudgy Brownies Journey

All my life I was making brownies out of a box mix. And I was content with it, until I wasn’t. A couple of years ago I made a box mix that was dull, flavorless, and more cake-like than true brownie texture. I didn’t even really want to serve them to my friends but that was all I had time for that day. Maybe it was the brand or type of mix that I bought that was the problem. I suspect it is actually just that I have higher expectations of baked goods. So I began the process of creating my own recipe. I bake everything else from scratch, why should fudgy brownies be the exception??

Brownies on a white background.

The Challenge

As it turns out, fudgy brownies are actually a huge lesson in chemistry. I did not study chemistry of any sort in college, certainly not food related chemistry. So, when my first attempt at my own fudgy brownies failed, I began to research. You’d be surprised how little information there is out there on how to get that shiny, flaky “skin” that we all love to see on top of our brownies. Without finding much info online, I have modified, adjusted, and tested several versions of brownies. Each version has been delicious. The asthetic has just been off from what I want.

Brownies on a white plate and white background.

The Answer

As I was about to finalize my recipe, a friend shared a YouTube video with me. She didn’t know I had been working on this recipe for a year and a half. A delicious, chocolate filled year and a half. This video explained what I was trying to figure out. That flaky shine on top of brownies is related to the sugars being fully coated in fat. I altered my recipe again… and again. As I sit here typing, I literally have four slightly different batches sitting on my counter. What I’ve determined is that the a super high gloss shine is achievable. I can almost see my reflection in one batch but it doesn’t taste as good. The ultimate balance is a light, flaky shine on top while maintaining that fudgy, rich chocolate in the middle. So here it is, my labor of love, my fudgy brownies recipe. Enjoy!

By The Way…

My favorite pairing with these Fudgy Brownies is my No Churn Chocolate Chunk Coffee Ice Cream. Go ahead and try it, and let me know if you agree 😉

Brownies on a white plate and white background.

Fudgy Brownies

Sarah Baade
Rich chocolate flavor with that classic flaky shine on top. You'll never reach for a box mix again.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

Equipment

  • Electric mixer. Ideally, a stand mixer is best for this recipe.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional but adds richness to the chocolate flavor)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350℉.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Scrape sides of bowl as needed. When you think you have it fully combined, scrape the sides again and continue beating the mixture for a few more minutes.
  • Add powdered sugar to the butter mixture. Start mixing on low so the powdered sugar doesn't fly out of the bowl. Gradually increase speed of mixer and beat until mixture is light in texture and almost white in color. (I use a stand mixer and let it run at the second highest setting while I prepare the next ingredients.)
  • In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips in microwave. Stir every 30 seconds in order to not burn the chocolate. Once fully melted, set aside to cool slightly.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt. Set aside. (Don't skip sifting. This prevents you from having clumps of cocoa powder in your brownies.)
  • Add eggs and vanilla to butter mixture and begin mixing at low setting.
  • While continuing to mix butter and eggs, add melted chocolate. Beat on medium speed until fully combined. Scrape sides of bowl as needed.
  • With a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula, gradually stir dry ingredients into mixture.
  • Spread brownie batter into greased 9×13 baking pan. Bake 30 minutes or until test toothpick come out almost clean (you want to see a few bits of slightly undercooked batter on the toothpick).
Keyword Brownies, Fudgy Brownies, Homemade Brownies

Looking for additional dessert recipes? Try these Peanut Butter Cut-Out Cookies or Chocolate chip Cookie Bars.

SHREDDED CHICKEN TACOS

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Adapting

My “day job” has been particularly hectic lately and, if I’m honest, I’m worn out. On the one hand, I’m thankful to be busy. I don’t actually like having much down time at the office. On the flip side, there are days when I feel like I’m barely keeping up. Have you ever had one of those weeks where you don’t even feel like you have time for a bathroom break? That’s where I’m at. While we’re all tired of the phrase “new normal”, that is exactly what I’m adapting to. I’m viewing it as a learning curve. Added tasks to the day-to-day are really just a matter of time management. I’m learning how to multitask and prioritize in new ways. Once I get the hang of it, I’m sure I’ll be even more efficient than ever.

All Hand On Deck

When work gets crazy, my time at home becomes even more valuable. The last thing I want is more work as we get home from work and school. Yes, chores need to be done and meals need to be cooked but I still want to have time to relax with my family. We accomplish this in two ways. First off, we all pitch in on the chores. Even our four year old can help empty the dish washer or toss laundry in the wash. Secondly, we are intentional about choosing easy to cook meals. My husband and I take turns with meal planning and cooking. Weeknight meals are typically just a simple protein with a vegetable of some sort as the side dish. My husband tends to grill and I tend to do sheet pan dinners or slow cooker meals. Once again, our daughter helps out where she can. She might help season the vegetables or she might just set the table for us.

Shredded Chicken Tacos (a slow cooker meal)

As I’ve been exploring more slow cooker meals, I remembered a recipe my brother and sister-in-law used to make for shredded pork. I’ve adapted the recipe into my own shredded chicken tacos by using my usual taco seasonings. I also opted for chicken as we are more likely to have that on hand in our freezer. I’ve been making this on the weekends so that I can have leftovers for lunch during the week. This shredded chicken is delicious in tacos (as I’ve written it up here) but it is really more versatile than that. You could put it on a baked potato, in sandwiches, on nachos, or make a rice bowl with it. Frankly, it is even tasty on its own, cold or warm. I’m excited to see what you end up doing with this recipe.

Shredded Chicken Tacos

Sarah Baade
This chicken is made in a slow cooker which means it is incredibly easy to make. Wrap it up in a tortilla with your favorite toppings for a delicious taco meal.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dinner
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 12 Tacos

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • 10oz can Rotel
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1½ teaspoons paprika
  • 1½ teaspoons chili powder
  • 12 tortillas
  • Optional toppings: spicy cole slaw (see next recipe), avocado, sour cream, cilantro

Instructions
 

  • Place chicken in bottom of slow cooker then top with rotel, lime juice, and all spices.
  • Cook on high for 4 hours or until chicken is cooked through and easily starts to pull apart.
  • Move chicken from slow cooker to a large serving dish (keeping as much of the rotel and seasoning on it as possible) and shred with two large forks.
  • Serve in tortillas with desired toppings.
Keyword Chicken Tacos, Crock Pot Meal, Shredded Chicken Tacos, Slow Cooker, Slow Cooker Meal, Tacos

Spicy Coleslaw

Sarah Baade
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Ingredients
  

  • 7oz shredded cabbage or coleslaw blend
  • 5oz plain greek yogurt
  • 2 teaspoons sriracha (more or less depending on how hot you want it)
  • juice of ½ lime
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Stir all ingredients together in a small mixing bowl until cabbage is evenly coated.
  • Serve on shredded chicken tacos.
Keyword Coleslaw, Spicy Coleslaw

Looking for more taco recipes?

Try my Sheet Pan Veggie Tacos or my Cauliflower Tacos.

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS WITH STREUSEL TOPPING

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Muffin Memories

Blueberry muffins with streusel topping always seemed so fancy to me as a kid. What in the world was that magical topping? Why didn’t we get this topping on the muffins we made from a box mix? I recall blueberry muffins being something we ate on special occasions, like on Christmas morning. Always made from a box mix. And I loved them. In short, those muffins were something special and yet I still longed for that streusel topping. Friends, this was the 80’s and streusel seemed fancy. Today, you can get a box mix that includes a streusel topping and I will never judge you for making those. I get it. Busy lives need simple solutions. But I promise you, the homemade version is also very doable.

Dark gray tray of blueberry muffins with extra blueberries on the tray.

That Homemade Touch

Now that I’m an adult and the primary cook in the household, I find little ways to treat myself. One of the ways I treat myself is with homemade muffins. Yes, I still make a boxed mix on occasion but homemade always tastes better and don’t actually take much longer to make. I use frozen blueberries because they aren’t as delicate as fresh and don’t streak juice throughout the muffins. As for that *magical* streusel topping? Turns out it is quite easy to make! In fact, I might never make another muffin recipe without it. There is something about that crunchy, sweet topping that I can’t resist. With blueberry muffins being such a strong memory of childhood, I knew I needed to start here. Classic blueberry muffins with streusel topping. These make you feel like you’re eating something from your favorite corner bakery without actually having to leave the house.

Dark gray tray of blueberry muffins with extra blueberries on the tray.
Dark gray tray of blueberry muffins with extra blueberries on the tray.

Blueberry Muffins with Streusel Topping

Sarah Baade
Classic blueberry muffins with a light streusel topping.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine American
Servings 12 muffins

Ingredients
  

Blueberry Muffins

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup frozen blueberries

Streusel Topping

  • â…“ cup all purpose flour
  • â…“ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

For the Muffins

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and place paper liners in muffin tin.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
  • Mix eggs and vanilla into butter mixture.
  • Stir in half of the dry ingredients, then all of the milk, then the rest of the dry ingredients until just combined.
  • Gently fold frozen blueberries into the batter.
  • Pour batter into prepared muffin tin.

For the Streusel Topping

  • In a small mixing bowl, stir all ingredients together. Sprinkle mixture over muffins.
  • Bake 35 minutes or until a test toothpick comes out clean.
Keyword Blueberry, Blueberry Muffins, Blueberry Muffins with Streusel Topping, Breakfast, Easy Breakfast, Easy Recipe, Homemade Muffins, Muffins, Streusel Topping

Looking for more easy breakfast recipes? I’ve got you covered…

Baked Oatmeal

Southwestern Hash Brown Waffles

Savory Spinach Turnovers

Pumpkin Spice Granola

Best Banana Bread

TOT TOPPED SHEPHERD’S PIE

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Changes To Our Meals

We all know life has changed over the past year. Okay, that is an understatement but I know I know need to go into all of the ways life has changed. I want to tell you how my family’s dinners have changed. Prior to Covid-19, my family and I focused on plant based options most days of the week. We still included meat of one sort or another a couple of times per week but most of our dinners were vegetarian or even vegan. When we started ordering our groceries online for curbside pick up, things changed for us. Being able to stop by the store on the way home from work/school, kiddo in tow, became something we are less comfortable with. Picking up groceries only every other week means relying more on foods that store well longer term (hello freezer!). Long story short, we’ve started eating more meats because they are easy to store in the freezer long term. As our eating habits change, it only feels right to shift the blog as well. My first beef based recipe for you is Tot Topped Shepherd’s Pie.

Wooden spoon with a scoop of tater tot shepherds pie and a white casserole dish with tater tots in the background.
Tot Topped Shepherd’s Pie

In addition to introducing more meats into our diet, we are focusing on smaller dishes to accommodate our small family without having excessive leftovers or waste. I recently saw this idea of topping a shepherd’s pie with tater tots and I knew I needed to make my own version of this. I love a traditional shepherd’s pie and even have a plant based, Baby Bella Shepherd’s Pie on here. But my least favorite part of making the traditional version is the mashed potatoes. The peeling, cutting, boiling, and mashing of the potatoes seems to take forever. Worth it? Yes. Do I always have time for those steps? No. These tater tots save tons of time and give a slightly crispy texture that is a hit with my whole family. Added bonus? Tots keep in the freezer until you’re ready to make this dish (as do the ground beef and peas). Give this Tot Topped Shepherd’s Pie a go and let me know what you think of this new recipe!

Wooden spoon with a scoop of tater tot shepherds pie and a white casserole dish with tater tots in the background.

Tot Topped Shepherd’s Pie

Tater Tots make for a super easy topping on this cozy dish.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dinner

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 3 large carrots, cut into ¼" slices
  • ½ medium yellow onion, diced
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 cup beef stock
  • 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 package frozen tater tots

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • In a large skillet, over medium heat, brown ground beef. Drain any excess grease.
  • Add carrots to beef and cook 2-3 minutes.
  • Add onion and cook an additional 2-3 minutes.
  • Stir in garlic, thyme, salt and pepper.
  • Sprinkle flour over mixture and stir until evenly coated.
  • Add peas, beef stock, and tomato paste. Stir until paste is evenly distributed.
  • Transfer mixture into a greased 8×8 pan. Place tater tots on top of mixture in straight rows then bake for 25-30 minutes or until tots are golden. Serve warm.

Notes

Number of servings varies slightly based on who is eating. My family of three (two adults and one young child) managed to get two servings each. If feeding four adults, I would estimate four servings.
Keyword Casserole, Hot Dish, Shepherd’s Pie, Tater Tots, Tot Topped Shepherd’s Pie

SLOW COOKER BLACK BEAN SOUP

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Bowl of black bean soup garnished with sour cream, two slices of avocado and green onions.

There is a restaurant here in San Antonio that has amazing, smoky refried black beans. These are my absolute favorite beans. Ever. I love these beans so much that I could never try to actually replicate them. Instead, I’ve used those beans as inspiration. Have you ever used liquid smoke before? A little goes a long way but when you find the right balance, it can give a beautiful enhancement to the flavors of your dish. After creating this black bean soup, I am interested to see how else I can start using liquid smoke.

My family and I have found a new weekend routine where we schedule time to play outside. This might be riding our bikes through the neighborhood, running around on a playground, or hiking a nearby trail. By scheduling these activities, we are all committed to spend this time together, “no screens attached.” It has provided such an escape from all the stressors of the world. For those couple of hours, our only priority is having fun together. Pure joy. I’ve found that these activities can build up quite an appetite. With the cooler weather we’ve had lately, I love starting a slow cooker recipe in the morning and having it ready for when we get back home. So here, I have for you, my new slow cooker black bean soup recipe. Start it in the morning, go spend some time playing outside, and then enjoy a warm bowl when you get home.

Bowl of black bean soup garnished with sour cream, two slices of avocado and green onions.

Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

Sarah Baade
This soup is easy to make and has a warm, gentle smoky flavor to it. Delicious.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dinner, Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb dry black beans, rinsed
  • 15oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 yellow onion, diced
  • 2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 3 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
  • Optional Garnishes: sour cream, avocado, green onions, crumbled tortilla chips

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in slow cooker.
  • Cook on high for 6 hours or until beans are tender.
  • Serve with garnishes as desired.
Keyword Black Bean Soup, Black Beans, Slow Cooker, Slow Cooker Soup

Looking for more soup recipes?

Barley Soup

One Pot Vegetarian Chili

PEPPERMINT COCOA COOKIES

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December can only mean one thing when it comes to food blogging… COOKIES! Over the years, I’ve done more Christmas cookie baking days and cookie exchanges than I can count. These traditions are fun, right? And they truly bring joy. Joy that tastes delicious, and sweet, and comforting. So many of us have memories of a grandparent or a parent making a certain favorite cookie. No matter how old I get, I will always feel nostalgic love for a chocolate crinkle cookie (in my family, we call it a chocolate Kringle cookie) because that’s what tastes like home so to speak. In a year when many of us can’t be near our families for the holidays, we can at least come together over holiday cookies. Perhaps you and your mom make the same traditional recipe on the same day this year? Or maybe you video chat with your brother as you both try a new cookie recipe? Let’s make cookies together this year even if we still aren’t close enough to hug.

White background with chocolate cookies surrounded by red and white peppermint candy pieces.

I’ve had chocolate on the brain lately, brownies specifically, actually. However, brownies don’t scream Christmas to me. With that in mind, I converted a brownie recipe I’ve been working on and turned it into a holiday cookie. My husband loves peppermint with chocolate (frankly, I do too) and so this peppermint cocoa cookie was born. To keep things festive, I used actual peppermint candies for this recipe rather than peppermint extract. I hope you’ll think of your family and holiday traditions as you dive into these cookies.

White background with chocolate cookies surrounded by red and white peppermint candy pieces.
White background with chocolate cookies surrounded by red and white peppermint candy pieces.

Peppermint Cocoa Cookies

Sarah Baade
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 36 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional but add richness to the chocolate flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 large eggs
  • 5 oz starlight mint candies or candy canes, broken into small pieces

Instructions
 

  • In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix together sugar, melted chocolate, vegetable oil, espresso powder and vanilla.
  • Stir in eggs one at a time.
  • Gradually stir in dry ingredients.
  • Stir in broken candy pieces.
  • Chill for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat over to 350°F.
  • Form cookie dough into walnut sized balls and place on parchment lined cookie sheet, 2" apart.
  • Bake 13-15 minutes.

Notes

*I did not have any marshmallow fluff on hand when I made these but I think it would be great for turning these into a sandwich cookie.
Keyword Chocolate, Cookies, Peppermint, Peppermint Cocoa Cookies

PUMPKIN BARS

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In recent months, I have come to learn that Halloween is my daughter’s favorite holiday. Last year was her first time trick or treating and she was nervous. The idea of talking to strangers and asking them for something was a bit much. We didn’t want her to miss out on all the fun so we practiced with her. We sat down and explained how trick or treating works and then literally pretended to go through the motions with her. She was still hesitant but on the big night but she put a brave foot forward and rocked it out.

Yes, the costumes and the candy are part of the fun at Halloween. BUT, my girl loves everything about this season. She has fun making jack-o-lanterns, checking out neighborhood decorations, and eating all the pumpkin treats. Last year, she asked for my homemade pumpkin bread on a weekly basis. This year, I’m giving her another homemade option with these pumpkin bars. Thick crust, smooth pumpkin filling, crumble topping, maple glaze. I know my daughter is going to love this! I’m also confident you and yours will love it.

Pumpkin Bars

Sarah Baade
Thick crust, smooth pumpkin filling, crumble topping, maple glaze. The perfect pumpkin bar.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 16 bars

Ingredients
  

Crust

  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • â…“ cup brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Pumpkin Filling

  • 15 oz canned pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¾ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom

Crumble Topping

  • â…“ cup flour
  • â…“ cup old fashioned oats
  • â…“ cup brown sugar, packed
  • ¼ cup raw pecan pieces
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Maple Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together all crust ingredients – mixture will be crumbly. Press mixture into pan and bake 25 minutes. While crust cools, prepare the filling and topping. Keep oven heated to 350° F.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together all pumpkin filling ingredients until smooth. In another medium bowl, stir all crumble topping ingredients together. Spread pumpkin filling over crust. Sprinkle crumble topping over pumpkin filling. Bake 45 minutes. Let cool completely.
  • Once cooled, whisk maple glaze ingredients together in a small mixing bowl then drizzle over pumpkin bars. Use parchment paper to lift bars out of the pan and place on cutting board. Cut bars into 16 squares.
Keyword Pumpkin, Pumpkin Bars, Pumpkin Spice

CLASSIC PESTO

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Since moving to Texas nearly a decade ago, I have tried growing some sort of produce nearly every summer. I’ve been semi-successful with tomatoes and peppers here and there but nothing really worth bragging about. This summer we had some local teenagers build a raised garden bed for us and I am really looking forward to how this will expand my gardening efforts. This is also the first summer I’ve ventured into growing herbs. I’m proud to say that my basil plant has been thriving! This plant has more than doubled in size in the short couple of months its been living in my backyard. The best way I could think of to honor this beautiful plant is to make pesto out of it. This recipe puts the basil front and center.

You can actually make pesto from a variety of ingredients. You essentially choose your greens, choose your nuts, and combine with the remaining typical ingredients. I love that this enables you to use what you have on hand. This past weekend, I even made a version that used the green leaves from my sweet potato plants. But let’s be honest, most people don’t have those readily available. As I continue to play around with different combinations, I may post some of my favorite pesto recipes. There is a lot to be said, though, for starting with the basics though.

Here, I’ve decided to keep things traditional – basil and pine nuts. Once you put it all together, there are lots of options for using your pesto. I love eating it on toast with hummus and a thick tomato slice. You can use pesto instead of a red sauce as your base on pizza or on pasta. I’m also a huge fan of pesto on fried eggs. I’d love to hear how you end up using this recipe so feel free to leave a comment below with the details.

Classic Pesto

Sarah Baade
Classic pesto is easy to make and a fantastic way to use up fresh basil.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Condiments, Sauces
Cuisine Italian

Equipment

  • Food Processor

Ingredients
  

  • 1/3 cup pine nuts
  • 2 cups fresh basil, packed
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Place pine nuts in a dry sauté pan and cook over medium low heat. Stir frequently until pine nuts are lightly browned. Once toasted, immediately remove pine nuts from heat and place on a separate plate to cool. ***Watch pine nuts closely during this process as they can quickly pass from lightly toasted to burned.
  • Place cooled pine nuts, basil, parmesan cheese, and garlic in a food processor and pulse until coarsely ground.
  • Add olive oil, lemon juice and salt into the food processor and pulse until smooth.
Keyword Basil, Pesto, Pine Nuts

PERFECT DOZEN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

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I’ve been on a sweets kick over the past few weeks. Sorry, not sorry about that. In a way, I’m just going back to my roots with this post though. Baking is what first drew me to the kitchen. And chocolate chip cookies? Isn’t that what most of us first learn to bake with? My daughter has known the basic ingredients for chocolate chip cookies since she was two years old. We’re still working on measurements but I love that she can call out the ingredients we need as we grab them from the pantry and fridge.

Even though this is my fourth chocolate chip cookie recipe (you can find links to the others at the bottom of this page), I know I will create more in the future. This has become my favorite cookie to play with and make variations of. Honestly, you guys have also been a driving force behind these recipes. I’ve heard stories about you using my chocolate chip cookie recipes to teach your own kids how to bake. Stories about making my recipes for special occasions. It means so much to me to know that you all are incorporating my cookie creations into your own traditions and communities! Without further adieu, here is the latest version. I really think of this one as a classic chocolate chip cookie. It makes only a dozen because some folks have a need for small batch recipes. That being said, these cookies are larger than I usually make and they are full of flavor.

Perfect Dozen Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sarah Baade
A small batch recipe for a classic chocolate chip cookie – this recipe makes 12 large cookies.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream together brown sugar and butter. Scape down sides of bowl as needed.
  • Add egg and vanilla to butter and mix until combined.
  • Gradually stir dry ingredients into butter mixture until just combined.
  • Stir in chocolate chips then chill dough for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Once chilled, scoop 6 heaping tablespoons of cookie dough onto the baking sheet and bake 17 minutes or until cookies are golden brown. Repeat with remaining dough.
  • Enjoy cookies warm with a glass of milk or a scoop of ice cream.
Keyword Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Homemade Cookies, Small Batch Recipe

More chocolate chip cookie recipes:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Soft Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

LEMON DELIGHT

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When I look back on memories of visiting my grandparents, one thing that stands out to me is simplicity. I recall finding joy in very simple activities such as exploring the vegetable garden, playing dominos, or stomping on the bubble wrap Grandpa had saved for us. While some states are a bit more open, Texas is still a hotbed for this COVID19 so my family and I are still staying home as much as possible. We are relearning to embrace simple activities with our little girl. We love splashing in puddles after the occasional rain we get. We planted our own vegetable garden. We play with building blocks and read books. Yes, we still watch TV on the weekends but we are really making memories through these simple activities.

Our kitchen has also become a place of simplicity and family time lately. This recipe came from my grandmother’s recipe box and is perfect for letting the kids help. Three ingredients and, as suggested by the name, this treat is absolutely delightful. Pull out your blender, pour all the ingredients in, mix it up and enjoy! I made this recipe with pink lemonade but the original version used regular lemonade. Take your pick, change it up based on you mood. Either way, this is a fast and fun recipe to indulge in this summer.

Lemon Delight

Sweet and slightly tart, this frozen treat is perfect for summer.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Blender

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pint vanilla ice cream
  • 1.5 cups milk
  • 12 oz frozen lemonade (regular or pink)

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!
Keyword Ice Cream, Lemon, Lemonade

Looking for additional frozen treats? I’ve got you covered! Click on the links below to help keep cool this summer.

CHERRY LIMEADE POPSICLES

NO CHURN BOURBON PECAN ICE CREAM WITH CHOCOLATE SWIRLS

CREAMY CHAI SPICED POPSICLES

BLACKBERRY CHEESECAKE NO CHURN ICE CREAM

NO CHURN CHOCOLATE CHUNK COFFEE ICE CREAM